Grants of up to $20 million are on offer to manufacturers in the food and beverage and defence sectors in a bid to help Australian companies scale. 

Food and beverage grants 

Australia’s reputation for premium, safe and high-quality food and beverage products and its close proximity to Asia has set up the sector for further growth overseas. 

The Manufacturing Translation Stream – Food and Beverage Priority grant will support projects that translate research into commercial outcomes to help Australian food and beverage businesses scale into new markets. 

The Manufacturing Integration Stream – Food and Beverage Priority grant is targeting projects that integrate the food and beverage industry into domestic and international value chains. 

Defence industry opportunities 

The Manufacturing Initiative – Manufacturing Translation Stream – Defence Priority is focused on growing the defence supply chain domestically and internationally, and notes that “Australian manufacturers are in a prime position to take advantage of the increased domestic and global investments in Defence capabilities”. 

The Manufacturing Initiative – Manufacturing Integration Stream – Defence Priority, meanwhile, will support projects that integrate Australian businesses into domestic and international defence value chains. 

A combined total of $140 million is on offer through the grants, which are set at between $1 million and $20 million each and administered through the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. 

Applications can be made via www.business.gov.au/mmii, with the food and beverage grants closing April 27 and the defence grants closing April 28.